Tips for Job Fair Success
Attending job and career fairs can be an important tool in finding a job in your chosen career! The Center for Career Development hosts several career fairs over the course of a year, offering you plentiful opportunities to meet and interact with potential employers. Below, you'll find tips and advice on how to prepare for a job fair, how to conduct yourself, and suggestions on what to ask employers when you meet them.
Job fairs and career fairs hosted by the Center for Career Development are posted on the Events and Workshops page, as well as on Handshake. Always be sure to check your Handshake account in advance!
If you have any questions, let us know! We're here to help.
Preparing for a Job Fair
Access the companies that will be in attendance through your Handshake account. Identify companies that you want to talk with. There is no limit, but
select a reasonable number that is manageable based on the amount of time you can
spend at the fair.
Do Your Research
Research the companies you’ve selected using services such as Handshake, Glassdoor, and/or Indeed, and keep the following things in mind:
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- Look for companies that share your values.
- Research employee benefits the company provides.
- Know the company’s core business function, services or products.
- Research the company’s entry level training programs.
- Expand your research to news and recent events.
- Ask your network for opinions. (Friends, family, faculty, career development, LinkedIn,
etc.)
Preparing to Speak to Employers
From your research craft one to two good questions to ask the employer or employers
you've researched when the time is right. See if the organization currently has jobs
running on Handshake and review the job postings ahead of time.
On the Day of the Job Fair
Dress appropriately. Business professional (best) or business casual (good). Take a padfolio and pen and take multiple copies of your employer-ready resume.
Practice your introductory statement; it should be 15-20 seconds long.
Listen intently and take short notes if necessary.
Special Tips for Freshmen
Assuming you are not yet ready for an internship, consider these suggestions at your next job fair:
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- Don’t ask the employer to sign anything showing you attended the job fair. Ask the Tech employees that are running the event instead.
- Don’t ask “What does your company do?”
- Don’t grab things off their table and go. If you want something off their table,
ask by saying, “Do you mind if I take one of these?”
Good Questions to Ask
It can be difficult to know what to ask when approaching a company at a job fair. Consider asking questions like these:
“I brought my resume and I will be interested in applying to internships with your organization. What could I be doing between now and the time I apply to be better qualified to for those internships?”
“I would like to intern with your company next summer, when would be the appropriate time to apply?”
“When your organization has internships available, do you post them on Handshake?”
“What are the top things your organization looks for when hiring interns?”
